What is the BEST Netflix Appliance?

My Dad got a Vizio blu-ray player mainly for its Netflix streaming capability only to discover that the Netflix app in the device doesn't even allow him to search Netflix for movies; he can only browse the titles as they present them.

From what I understand (I don't subscribe to Netflix) he can use his computer and search online and place titles into his instant queue and view/stream them on his appliance, and I've told him this 100 times, but he doesn't seem to grasp the concept, or can't be bothered to do it. So he continues to complain that he can't find any movies to download and watch.

Before the purchase of the Vizio, I had no idea that there were different capabilities of the different Netflix apps; I don't see features of the apps listed anywhere.

SOOOooo, what are the best Netflix appliances (Netflix devices), and what features do their apps have? Can new apps be downloaded to update the streaming devices? (I'm gonna check the Vizio website now.)

I can't offer any advice, but I am sure interested in reading what other people think/use.

Our old style tv died and we replaced it with our first ever flat screen tv. We have a standard (expanded) basic cable feed but I am seriously thinking about getting some kind of blu ray device specifically to stream netflix. Am hoping to find one that will NOT play video games (I think that would be bad for my marriage....).

Thanks for asking this, Ron!

I am not fond of anything made by Sony other than TV's. Once Sony wanders into any other technology it seems their goal is to make it as proprietary as possible with fewer features and expensive to repair

We dumped most of our cable service in January and signed up with Netflix. Our service is streamed through the Wii via the wireless router. The service is very basic but when you are on the main screen, there is a search option button located next to the back arrow in the upper right hand corner. I can't add movies to my cue but I can do a specific search and play it immediately if it's available for streaming. Instant viewing is limited but we still seem to find plenty of things to watch.

If he uses the computer to search, add/remove, and reorder que for streaming and DVD it's much easier.

If I had my way, we would buy an Apple TV box. But so far the Wii has been great, especially with the wireless interface.

I have a Roku device and it works very well.You can either stream wired or wirelessly. As long as you're using a G or N router, it streams quickly without hic-ups.

It can do Netflix and Hulu-TV among a bunch of others.

Anybody else have experience streaming Netflix?

I have netflix but I never use it for the computer. We do have it for the Xbox 360 and the Wii. The 360 is hooked up through LAN and causes interuptions because of buffering. I prefer netflix on the Wii through our wireless. Less interuptions (only when our wireless is out) and no buffering.

ron,my youngest just came in and says for your dad's purposes that wii would be best with netflix.i figured because i haven't heard any fits since she installed it and it's on wireless.

We stream Netflix on our Wii through a wireless connection too. I runs without interruption but I am typically not the one choosing the movies so I am not sure about the choices and the que-- but I do know it is easy to use. We have a Netflix option on our Tivos as well. I haven't used them but my children have--I will ask them which they think gives the most choices and is the easiest to use. To be continued...

I am not aware of any device, other than a computer, that lets you search Netflix and add movies to your queue. I have a Roku and I have to set up the queue on my computer and then I can scroll through it on my tv.

With Amazon free for Prime members streaming, you can't even set up a queue. It is really clunky. I've tried that on both Roku and on a Samsung wifi tv.

Val,Which model Roku do you have?

On mine I can search thru all the movies they have available by streaming by typing in the name of the movie.I haven't added any movies to my que yet, so I'm not sure about searching for the movies one has put into their que.

Keep this in mind:Netflix DOES NOT stream the blockbusters. Don't know why.You can only get those thru the mail.

Searching by typing in the name is so tedious that I don't really consider it an option. I rarely have a specific movie that I want to search for. I meant I did not see any way to browse by genres, newly added, recommended for you, etc. All the browsing and queuing happens on the computer (as far as I can tell).

Valerie wrote:

Searching by typing in the name is so tedious that I don't really consider it an option. I rarely have a specific movie that I want to search for. I meant I did not see any way to browse by genres, newly added, recommended for you, etc. All the browsing and queuing happens on the computer (as far as I can tell).

Really?How old is your Roku?

I can do all that on mine.

I'll try to get a video of the user interface and post it up

Wow, really Mark? That's great. Mine is the original, from 2009. I didn't realize there were differences in basic browse/search functionality since the interface can be made to show whatever, including new channels like Amazon, Hulu, etc. I thought the difference with the newer units was HD, etc. Hmmm. I may need to get a newer one. . . OK not actually, since I always have my laptop right in front of my tv.

Finally had a chance to talk with my daughter--'the expert'! She says that to browse for movies she goes to Netflix.com on her computer and then puts the movies that she wants in the queue. She doesn't use the device option as it is tedious. She does stream through the Wii too--but says that there aren't as many options for streaming--so she does the old fashioned 'mail the dvd's a lot too.

She said she has been checking out Blockbuster's new online option and that they seem to have a lot more choices but are a little more expensive. There is not a 30 day wait for new releases at Blockbuster.

Sorry if this is not much help--but that is how she does it.

For those using the Roku unit; are you using it wired to Ethernet, or Wifi? If it's Wifi, how far away from the Wifi router is it and how old is the unit?

I've seen some issues reported about the newer unit's Wifi.

THANKS

Ron wrote:

For those using the Roku unit; are you using it wired to Ethernet, or Wifi? If it's Wifi, how far away from the Wifi router is it and how old is the unit?

I've seen some issues reported about the newer unit's Wifi.

THANKS

Ron,I have the top of the line Roku box. Cost = $99. Just bought it in January.I use my Roku wirelessly without an issue. No hic-ups. Only buffers when starting a movie and that only lasts about 10 seconds.I use a Linksys G router that's about 25 feet away if you were to draw a straight line between the Roku and the router. The router is in the basement while the Roku is on the first floor.

I'm very impressed with it.

OK. As promised, I've made a video of the Roku's user interface and posted it on YouTube

I show the initial screen, then the Netflix screen. Notice how you can search for movies or you can browse thru the different genres. They also include a new releases section.Then I show some of the other "channels" that I have picked and then some of the "channels" Roku offers (there's a LOT more than I show).

Hope this helps.

Thanks, Mark!

So I guess you can search by title but not by anything else and you can browse through whatever they decide to show you in whatever order they decide in the categories. This is what I've seen on my brother's Wii. My dad's blu-ray player does not have the search feature.

What you can't do with the Roku is search for actors or directors or dates/date ranges or for subject matter.

I don't have Netflix yet; can you search for these things on the computer? Complex searches?

I know you can search by genre or title on-line and I know you can filter by year.To be honest, I haven't used the on-line portion of Netflix much since I signed up.

We use the Xbox 360 to stream all the available movies and shows on Netflix. We can watch it all on the Samsung 50" dlp tv. I just replaced the lamp so it is looking great.

EXCITING UPDATE! I was browsing on my Roku last night and discovered that I can actually do all the things Mark showed! I don't know if the interface was updated since I first got my unit or if this functionality had always been there. I've always scrolled across left to right. On a whim, I pressed the down arrow and was amazed to see all sorts of options. Thanks Mark!! I had no idea!!

Is there a model number for that Roku, Val?

(By the way, how is Roku pronounced? I am guessing it's like "Rock You" and not "Rawkoo"?)

Ron wrote:

Is there a model number for that Roku, Val?

(By the way, how is Roku pronounced? I am guessing it's like "Rock You" and not "Rawkoo"?)

interesting...my take on it was Row-koo (as in row house, or row your boat)

I have just ordered the Roku XS "gaming unit" for my dad.... $89.99 no sales tax and free shipping direct from roku.

I will be installing it in his condo when it arrives, hopefully before next Friday. My sister and I "went in halfsies" for his birthday. We decided on the XS model just in case someday he has the need for hard-wired Ethernet instead of the wifi. He's in a condo building and someday he could have 4 wifi N routers adjacent to his living room. That plus the IR remote and the USB port for thumb drives made the extra $20 an easy choice.

He's been complaining that his HDMI Vizio Bluray player's volume is essentially nonadjustable. I found that to be generally true. The TV is working fine, the cable box (also HDMI) is working just fine. It seems to be some sort of a compatibility issue with the Vizio and the TV. Each has several audio settings and try as I might I could not get them volume to be nicely variable. I tried different HDMI ports on the TV. The only thing I didn't try was a different HDMI cable. hmmmmmm....

Anywhoo, I re-watched Mark's great video and that reminded me of all the great things he's going to be getting. Currently he has no access to these things and I take them for granted with my little Apple TV box. Things like Youtube and Hulu and TED (Love TED!). I think he'll never leave the TV set again!

So I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who participated here in this discussion. A year later and it was very helpful. Roku's website is still minimalist and very unhelpful.